Big Bear Outdoor is a family-run leisure
hire business, based in Brigstock,
set up by Kate & Ian Simpson. They
cover Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire,
Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and
Rutland, offering a large range of roof boxes,
cycle racks, bike boxes, horse boxes, tents
and trailers for hire, so that you and your
family and friends can enjoy great outdoor
experiences at a sensible price. Why spend
a fortune buying a quality product that you
then have to store for most of the year,
when you can hire conveniently and cost
effectively from Big Bear Hire?

The idea for Big Bear Outdoor was borne
out of ‘life-changing’ events. Just over
three years ago, Kate lost both her father
and sister to cancer within the short space
of three months. Little did she realise that
she would later be diagnosed with stage 4
lymphoma and fighting for her life too less
than two years later. By then, their youngest
daughter, Chloe, had just turned two and
Emma was eight.

Kate spent the next five months as an
inpatient in an Oxford hospital undergoing
very intensive chemotherapy and the
next six months building herself back up
again. It was during this time that Ian and
Kate decided they wanted to do things
differently. They realised how precious life
is, and working long hours in the corporate
world and commuting each day had lost its
appeal. They wanted more time with their
children and to realise a dream of owning
and running their own business locally.
They had a great blend of skills between
them: Kate with a retail background and Ian
a banker and born entrepreneur!

It was Kate & Ian’s own experience of
needing ‘outdoor/ leisure’ items, especially
as the family grew with the addition of
children and dogs, but also friends telling
them what they needed and wanted that
initially inspired them to hire out items.
Due to customer demand, they now also
sell high-quality outdoor and leisure items
and service them as well, and business is
booming!

Looking back at the last few years, Kate &
Ian agree that life indeed has an incredible
way of working out: that all these amazing
‘life-changing’ events have happened for
a reason and have been instrumental in
turning their dream of owning their own
successful business into a reality.
Big Bear Outdoor is a Thule, Brenderup
and Cheval Liberté stockist and a member
of NTTA (National Trailer and Towing
Association). Kate & Ian’s vision is very
clear and all about quality and convenience.
They will deliver to your home or place of
work at a time that is convenient to you.
They know all too well how precious time
is and want to make things as easy and as
simple as they can for you.

For bookings and enquiries, please visit
www.bigbearoutdoor.co.uk or call
033 33 22 44 55 (local rate).
Big Bear Outdoor is offering readers
of Village Connect a 10% discount with a mention of this article.